Electric shaver



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- ELECTRIC SHVER Fired Nov. 12, 196:5 :il Sheds-Sheet s ATroeA/EY ELEGTRI C SHAVER Filed Nov. l2, 1963 l Sheets-Sheet 4 A T roe/JE Y.

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ELECTRIC SHAVER Filed NOV. 12, 1963 11 Sheets-Sheet 7 /02 /20 U0 /Z Q NVE/Woes A Tram/EY.

@at 24, 3%? x, EPSON BML 393499253 ELECTRIC SHAVER Filed Nov.l 12, 1965 ll Sheets-Sheet B )29; 'A /fff ATTORNEY ELECTRI C SHAVER Filed Nov. l2, 1963 l Sheets5heet 9 ATTORNEY Gc, w67 l. Epsom ETAL ELECTRIC sHAvER Filed Nov. 12, 1965v 1,1, Sheets-Sheet lO A TTO/aA/EY @et 24, E967 l. EPSON ETAL, 31,34%263 ELECTRIC sHAvER Filed Nov. l2, 1963 il Sheets-heet ll IVVENTORS /57/ 6 NA@ dea-50M,

United States Iatent 3,349,263 ELECTRIC SHAVER Ivar Jepson, 03k Park, Francis J. Schuessler, Chicago, Wilbur C. Jackson, Wheaton, and John E. Jensen, Des Plaines, Ill., assignors to Sunbeam Corporation, Chlcago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed Nov. 12, 1963, Ser. No. 322,795 14 Claims. (Cl. 310 47) This invention relates to hand held electrically operated apparatus for removing facial and body hair, such as are commonly referred to as electric Shavers. More particularly, the present invention relates to improvements 1n the structure of electric shavers whereby they may be manufactured and repaired with great ease and economy.

Electric shavers of the type comprising a hand held unit including a self-contained electric motor which drives lan oscillating cutter have become widely accepted. To a large extent, electric shavers have replaced the safety razor in the shaving of facial and body hair. In view of the ever increasing popularity of electric Shavers, as evidenced by their increasing sales, it would be highly desirable to provide an electric shaver capable of being manufactured and repaired more cheaply than the electric shavers available today.

One type of electric shaver in extensive use today comprises a cutting assembly having one or more cutting blades driven by an oscillating cutter shaft. This shaft in turn is driven by an electric motor including the customary larmature and field winding. It would be desirable to provide electric Shavers presently available, such as that disclosed and claimed in the copending application of Jepson et al., Ser. No. 109,551, filed May l2, 1961, now Patent 3,196,539 and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention, with a construction whereby the manufacture and repair of the shaver is greatly simplified. In Shavers customarily in use today, different parts of the cutting and'motor assemblies may be supported on diiferent parts of the shaver casing or on a plurality of mounting means positioned at different places in the casing. As a result, the construction of the shaver is unduly complicated and expensive. Additionally, when the shaver is dismantled for repair, the internal structure of the shaver is often necessarily separated or dismantled to some extent, making repair diicult.

It would, therefore, be highly desirable to provide a new and improved electric shaver having a structure which could be manufactured, assembled and repaired more easily and economically than the electric shavers customarily in use tod-ay.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved electric shaver which can be manufactured cheaply and efficiently.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved electric shaver which, although compact in size, may be assembled with ease by a factory worker at low cost to the manufacturer.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved electric shaver which can be dismantled for purposes of repair Without dismantling the various moving parts contained within the shaver.

Still another object of the present invention resides in the provision of a new and improved electric shaver the repair of which is greatly facilitated by the fact that a portion of the casing of the shaver may be removed without dismantling the moving parts of the shaver so that the operation of the shaver may be observed by a repairman.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an electric shaver in which a unitary support or mounting element supports the electric motor armature assembly and the electric motor field winding, as Well as supporting the cutting shaft and appendant blade.

Still another object of the present invention resides in the provision of a new and improved electric shaver in which a unitary supporting member supports all the moving parts of the electric shaver.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved electric Shaver in which a unitary supporting member supports the electric motor, the cutting assembly, and also supports the structure necessary for connecting the electric motor to an electrical outlet.

It is another object of the present invention to provide `a new and improved electric shaver in which the field assembly of an electric motor is held to a unitary mounting element in a novel fashion.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved electric shaver in which the electric motor and cutter assembly of the shaver are mounted on a unitary portion of the casing.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, and the features of novelty which characterize the invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to Iand forming a part of this specification.

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view, through the cutter and casing portion only, of one embodiment of an electric shaver made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is Ia bottom plan View of the shaver of FIG. 1, assuming that FIG. 1 shows the complete structure, but with the casing removed;

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 are sectional views taken respectively along the lines 3 3, 4 4 and 5 5 of FIG. l and assuming in each case that FIG, 1 shows the complete structure;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6 6 of FIG. 3 assuming that FIG. 3 shows the completed structure, but showing a portion of the casing in phantom;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 7 7 of FIG. l again assuming that FIG. l shows the complete structure;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on line 8 8 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective View of the mounting chassis, brush mount and end caps of the shaver of FIG. l;

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the mounting chassis and motor supporting members of the shaver of FIG, 1;

FIG. 1l is a view somewhat similar to FIG. 1 (but not in section) of an -alternative embodiment of a shaver made in accordance with the present invention, with the comb, cutting blades and casing cover removed;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken on line 12 1Z of FIG. 11 but assuming that FIG. 11 shows the complete structure;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken on line 13 13 of FIG. 11 again assuming that FIG. 11 shows the complete structure;

FIG. 14 is a sectional View taken on line 14--14 of FIG. 11 again assuming that FIG. 11 shows the complete structure;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken on line 15 15 of FIG. 11 assuming that FIG. 11 shows the complete structure except for comb and cutting blades;

FIG. 16 is a yfragmentary sectional View taken on line 16 16 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the cutter shaft clamp of the shaver lof FIG. 11;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the casing mount of the shaver of FIG. 11;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the brush mount of the shaver of FIG. 11;

FIG. 20 is a sectional view somewhat similar to FIG. 1 of still another embodiment of an electric shaver made in accordance with the present invention but with the comb and cutting blades removed;

FIG. 21 is a secti-onal view taken on line 21-21 of FIG. 20 assuming FIG. 20 shows the comple-te structure;

FIG. 22 is a sectional view taken on line 22-22 of FIG. 20 again assuming FIG. 20 shows the complete structure;

FIG. 23 is a sectional view taken on line 23-23 of FIG. 20 again assuming FIG. 20 shows the complete structure;

FIG. 24 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 24-24 of FIG. 2() again assuming FIG. 20 shows the complete structure;

FIG. 25 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on line 25-25 of FIG. 20;

FIG. 26 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 26-26 of FIG. 20, also .assuming FIG. 20 shows the complete structure; and

FIG. 27 is a perspective view of the combined motor and head mounting for the shaver of FIG. 20.

In the following description the three embodiments of the present invention are described, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-10, 11-19, and 20-27, respectively. The rst embodiment, that shown in FIGS. 1-10, is described `in great detail, while the second and third embodiments shall be discussed more briefly. Identical parts appearing in dif ferent embodiments will be given the same reference numerals throughout, and, yfor reasons of brevity, will be described in detail only the first time they appear.

In brief, the electric Shavers of the present invention are of the type including a self-contained electric motor, having an armature and field winding assembly, which is mounted inside of a casing of convenient size and shape to be held in the hand. An aperture in the casing gives .access to a pair of terminal pins for connection to an electric outlet. The shavers also include a cutter assembly having an oscillating cutter shaft driven by the motor by means of a suitable drive system. In accordance with the present invention, alternative structures are illustrated, each of which includes a unitary support or mounting element to which all of the elements of the shaver 'are mounted. Each embodiment is characterized by the fact that part or all of the shaver casing may be removed to expose the inside of the assembled motor and cutter mechanism.

More specifically, the electric shaver of the first embodiment includes a mounting chassis adjacent the head of the shaver to which an electric motor armature assem-l bly is mounted by means of bearings at either end of the armature shaft.y The cutting assembly, including a cutting shaft and cutting blade, is mounted to the opposite side of the mounting chassis. In addition, the electric motor field winding assembly is supported from the mounting chassis in a unique .fashion by novel means including a pair of spring clamps. The casing of the shaver is secured to the mounting chassis by means of a hanger bracket which is also supported by the spring clamps. The top of the sh-aver is enclosed by a pair of end caps which are also related to the mounting chassis.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-10 of the drawings, there is illustrated an electric shaver designated generally at 30. The electric shaver 30 is built onto and around a mounting chassis 3.1, best shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 of the drawings. In the illustrated embodiment, the mounting chassis 31 is a unitary molded plastic member having several different portions serving different functions, as described in greater detail hereinafter.

The electric shaver 30 is provided with a casing or housing section 32 of generally rectangular cup shape open at the top for receiving at least the power unit of the shaver. The top edge of the casing 32 is provided with an inwardly directed ledge or shelf 32a. The mounting chassis 31 is provided with a peripheral flange 31a for engagement with the ledge 32a when the mounting chassis 31 is associated with the casing 32.

In order to support the eld structure o-f an electric motor, to be described hereinafter, from mounting chassis 31, there are provided a pair of identical generally U- shaped bail clamps 34, with the end legs of the legs remote from the bight portion of the U having inwardly turned ends 34a. A molded U-shaped plastic bail hanger 35 is provided to support bail clamps 34. To this end the legs of the bail clamps 34 are adapted to extend through spaced openings 33 in the mounting chassis 31. The inwardly turned ends 34a of lthe bail clamps 34 are adapted to be received in opposed openings 35h dened in a pair of spaced block members 35a integrally molded with bail hanger 35. For the purpose of properly positioning bail hanger 35 relative to mounting chassis 31, the latter is provided with an upwardly directed portion 31h somewhat in the form of .a truncated pyramid (FIGS. 4 and l0). It should be understood that the angularly disposed sides of the portion 31h is snugly received between the inner surfaces of the block members 35a of the bail hanger 35, as best shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings.

For apurpose which will become apparent from the ensuing description a hanger lbracket 36 is supported by the bight portions of the bail clamps 34. The hanger bracket 36 is preferably also a molded plastic member of somewhat rectangular configuration having a plurality of integral outwardly projecting pins 36a. These pins are adapted to engage the bight portions of the bail clamps 34. Preferably the bight portions of the U-shaped bail clamps at the junctions with the legs are distorted slightly to provide loop portions 34b for receiving pins 36a, as best shown in FIGS. l, 6 and l0- of the drawings. The hanger bracket 36, as mentioned above, includes a rectangular portion 3-6b having a rectangular opening 36d therein for a purpose later to be described. It also includes a pair of internally threaded mounting bosses 36e which are adapted to receive mounting screws 37 for securing the casing section 32 to hanger bracket 36 and indirectly to mounting chassis 31.

Thus it can be seen that when the hanger bracket 36, the bail clamps 34 and the `bail hanger 35 are all in place relative to the mounting chassis 31, the casing section 32 may be tightly held against the mounting chassis 31 by virtue of the mounting screws 37 which extend through suitable openings 32b defined in casing section 32.

A cutter head assembly 38 is mounted to the mounting chassis 31, and includes a cutter shaft 39 which is bonded at either end to resilient supporting material 40. Secured to the cutter shaft 39 is a blade and arm structure 41 which oscillates beneath a comb structure 42. T-he comb structure is held in place by comb locks 43 (FIGS. 4 and 5) which in turn are held by a comb lock spring 44 (FIGS. l 3, 4 and 5) which in turn is held between the bail hanger 35 and the mounting chassis 31. The chassis 31 is preferably provided with integral projections 31C (FIGS. 3, 6 and 9) for temporarily retaining the com-b lock spring in position during assembly.

The cutter head assembly and its relationship to chassis support 31 is fully described in copending Jepson application Ser. No. 237,239, filed Nov. 13, 1962, now Patent 3,206,850y and assigned to the same assignee as the instant application. Hence, it will be only briefly described hereinafter. As illustrated, the resiliently supporting material 40 is of square configuration and receivable in upwardly directed U-shaped recesses 45 and 46 defined in integral projections 31d and 31e of mounting chassis 31; The blocks 40 are held in recesses 45 and 46, respectively, by end caps 47 and 48, respectively, which are held 5 in place against the mounting chassis 31 by means of end cap mounting screws 49a and 49b which are threaded into the end caps 47 and 48 and extend through end cap screw holes 50 in the mounting chassis 31.

The chamber defined within the casing section 32 and below the mounting chassis 31 is a motor chamber designated at 51 and is largely occupied by an electric motor generally designated at 52 including an armature 53 which is supported on a shaft 54 and is journaled at either end in armature bearings 55 (FIG. 6). The bearings 55 are secured within spherical recesses 56 defined at the lower ends of projections 31j and 31g by suitable bearing retainers 57 and 58. The bearing retainer 57, which might be termed the commutator end bearing retainer, is suitably secured to the mounting chassis 31 by the screws or the suitable fastening means 49a which actually extend through openings 50 in the mounting chassis 31 into tapped openings in the end cap 47, thereby simultaneously securing bearing retainer 57 and the end cap 47 in assembled relationship with the chassis 31. The bearing retainer 58, on the other hand, which might -be termed the crank end bearing retainer, is also secured to the chassis 20 by suitable screws or fastening means 60, best shown in FIGS. l, 2 and 7 of the drawings.

To accommodate the armature 53, the mounting chassis 31 is recessed as designated at 62 (FIGS. 4, 6 and l0). The lchassis 31 is further provided with a downwardly projecting support member 311', best shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 6, 9 and l0 of the drawings, for supporting suitable terminal pins 64 vwhereby electrical connection may be made for energizing the electric motor 52 of the present invention. If it is desired to provide a separate switch built into the shaver housing as is shown in the abovementioned Jepson and Schuessler application, Ser. No. 109,551, then the projection 311' may support a suitable switch supporting member which, in turn, may also support the electrical terminals.

The particular construction of the motor 52 forms no part of the present invention, but as disclosed in Jepson Patent 2,688,184 includes a commutator 65 with which is associated a brush terminal assembly 66 (FIGS. 2, 5 and 6) suitably secured to the chassis 31 by fastening means 67.

The brush terminal assembly 66, best shown in FIGS. l, 2, 5, 6, 9 and 1G, comprises a molded brush mount 70 having a pair of laterally projecting mounting portions 70a which have notches 71 to receive mounting screws 67 whereby the brush mount 70 may be clamped to the commutator end of the chassis 31 by the screws 67 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 3).

To accommodate the commutator 65 the chassis mount 31 is provided with a semicylindrical recess 73 (FIGS. 5 and l). Also the chassis mount is provided at either side of the recess 73 with a pair of rectangular recesses 74 deT lining brush guiding grooves 4for receiving a pair of brushes 76. The open sides of the brush guiding grooves are partially closed by projections '70!) of brush mount 70. The brushes 76 are biased against the commutator 65 by a pair of brush contact levers 77 which pivot about a pair of pivot edges 70C (FIGS. 5, 9 and l0) defined on either side of the brush mount 70` between a pair of projecting fingers 70d. Each brush lever 77 is provided adjacent its lower end with a V-shaped portion 77aV (FIG. lfor receiving the associated one of the pivot edges 70e therein, the ngers 70d retaining the levers 77 in pivotal engagement with the pivot edges. Each brush contact lever is provided with a non-conductive spring anchor 78 whereby the brush engaging ends thereof are biased towards the commutator 65 by means of a single tension spring 80 interconnecting the two spring anchors 78. The tension spring 80 holds t-he levers 77 assembled in the brush mount 66. Thus it can ybe seen that the brushes 76 Will constantly be forced into contact with the commutator 65 by means of the force exerted by the tension spring 80. Moreover, with this arrangement the force against the brushes will be uniformly applied.

To complete the electric motor 52, and cooperating with the rotatable armature winding 53 there is provided a motor stator structure including iield winding 81 and a plurality of generally U-shaped field laminations 82 held in a conventional stacked relationship by any suitable means. The adjacent edges of the U-shaped laminations remote from the bight portion thereof are shaped to closely surround the armature winding 53, as best shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings. The upper ends of each leg of each lamination 82 is provided with a notch 83 (FIGS. 4 and 8) for receiving therein an associated projecting flange 31h (FIG. l0) defined adjacent the lower center portion of mounting chassis 31 at either side thereof. The bight portion of each lamination is provided at either end thereof with a notch 84 (FIG. 4) whereby a deformed central portion 34C of the bight portion of each bail clamp 34 may be snapped into the associated recess dened by notches 84. The eld winding 81 surrounds the bight portions of the laminations 82 in a well understood manner and extends through the opening 36d in hanger bracket 36. It will be understood that when the bail clamps 34 are snapped into position for supporting hanger bracket 36, the field structure including the eld winding 81 will be tightly held against the mounting Chassis 31 in a unique fashion which permits ready assembly and disassembly.

The field winding 81 is electrically connected by conductors 85 to the pin terminals 64 which are accessible from the exterior of the casing by virtue of an opening 86 defined in casing section 32. The terminals 64 are supported on an insulating terminal plate 87. The lower end of projection 311 of chassis mount 31 is provided with a pair of opposed grooves 89 (FIGS. 2 and l0) slidably mounted to receive the edges of terminal plate 87. A recess or notch 90 in projection 311 permits access to the terminal pins 64. The plate 87 and associated terminals 64 are held in position in grooves 89 by a mounting bracket 91.

For the purpose of converting rotary motion of the motor shaft 54 to oscillating motion of the cutter shaft 39 there is provided a drive mechanism 92 (FIGS. 1 and 7) which may be similar or identical to that disclosed in the above-mentioned copending Jepson application. As illustrated, it comprises a combined counterweight and crank 93 which is secured to a reduced end portion 54a of the armature shaft S4. A crank pin 94 projects from the combined crank and counterweight 93 and supports a flanged roller 95. The latter is received in a slot 96 in the free end of a toggle arm 97, the opposite end of which toggle arm is fixed to the associated end of the cutter shaft 39. Thus it will be understood that rotation of the armature shaft 54 imparts an oscillatory motion to the cutter shaft 39 through the drive mechanism 92.

Due to the unique construction of the shaver 30, disclosed in FIGS. 1-10 of the drawings and described above, all of the moving parts of the shaver 30 are secured to the mounting chassis 31. Because of this construction the fabrication of the shaver is greatly simplified, as iS also its assembly. In addition, when it becomes necessary to repair the shaver, the casing section 32 may be removed simply by removing the two mounting screws 37, whereby the entire operating mechanism is exposed, but still operative. Thus, a repairman may observe the operation of the shaver to more easily determine any malfunction.

Although the shaver of FIGS. l to l0 is at present considered the preferred embodiment of the invention, there is illustrated in FIGS. 1l to 19 of the drawings a shaver generally designated as 100 representing an alternative embodiment of the present invention. This shaver is similar in operation to the shaver described in FIGS. l through l0, and also permits ready access to the moving parts while these parts are in assembled and operative relationship.

In brief, the shaver 100 comprising another embodiment of the present invention includes a two-part casing which is severable in the middle, in the manner of a clamshell. One half of the casing serves as a mounting structure for the electric motor armature and field structure, as well as for the cutter assembly of the shaver. These portions of the shaver are mounted and assembled right on the casing half and are operatively secured thereto. The other half of the casing serves primarily as a cover for the mechanism of the shaver.

More specifically, having reference to FIGS. 1l to 19 of the drawings, the shaver 100 comprises a two-part casing including sections 101 and 102. The section 101 might be termed the support member for supporting all the movable parts in operative relation. Casing 102 iS shown in FIG. 18 and is of complex construction having a plurality of mounting means, as described in detail hereinafter, formed integrally therewith. Both casing sections 101 and 102 are preferably molded from a suitable plastic material to form a casing of pleasing appearance and functional shape. l

As in the preferred embodiment, the casing sections 101 and 102 define a motor chamber 103. One side of this chamber 103 is defined by abutting cooperating shelf portions 101g and 10251, which preferably include interlocking engaging portions, best shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 of the drawings. These shelf portions 101a and 102:1 are integrally molded with the associated casing sections 101 and 102, respectively, and are positioned a predetermined distance below the top thereof so that end casing sections 101b, 102b and 101C, 102C project above these shelf portions. The space above the shelf portions 101:1 and 102a and between the upwardly projecting end casing sections 101b, 102b and 101C and 102c` may be defined as the cutting chamber 105.

Disposed within motor chamber 103 is an electric motor 106 comprising an armature 107 mounted on an armature shaft 108 and a stator structure including U- shaped laminations 109 with the conventional field winding 110 associated with the bight portion of these laminations in a well known manner. In accordancewith the present invention, casing section 102 is provided with a pair of spaced bearing projections 102d and 102e, best shown in FIG. 18, which are each provided at the end thereof with bearing recesses 111 and 112, respectively, for receiving bearings 113 and 114. Preferably, and as in the preceding embodiment, a bearing wick recess 115 for receiving a suitable bearing wick 116 is provided for each of the recesses 115. The bearings 113 and 114 are held in position in recesses 111 and 112, respectively, by the bearing retainers 117 held in place by screws 118 threaded into tapped opening 119 in projections 102d and 102e.

To hold the stator structure of electric motor 106 in assembled relationship with respect to casing section 102, the latter is provided with a plurality of stator supporting ribs 102)c adjacent the under side of shelf portion 102a, spaced parallel ribs 102g and a pair of U-shaped cross ribs 10211 interconnecting the ribs 102g. Casing section 102 is also provided with a shelf 120 (FIG. 14) upon which the laminations 109 of the eld structure may rest. It will be understood that the field structure is thus accurately positioned at the bottom as viewed in FIG. 14 by the shelf 120, at the top by ribs 1021, and at the sides and rear by U-shaped ribs 102k interconnecting ribs 102g. The ribs 102g are recessed as indicated at 121 in FIG. 18 to accommodate the armature 107.

The electric motor 106 also includes the conventional commutator 123 mounted on the armature shaft 108. In order to accommodate a pair of suitable brushes 124 and a brush holder 126 (FIG. 19) the casing section 102 is provided with brush supporting projections 102m and 10211 which are provided with recesses 127 and 128, respectively. The recess 127 is provided with a narrow eX- tension 127a and the recess 128 is provided with a narrow extension 128a (FIGS. 16 and 17). The brush holder or mount 126 includes a pair `of tabs 126a adapted to be press fitted into recess extensions 127a ,and 12,8 a (FIGS.

15 and 16). The brush holder includes brush guiding recesses 129a and 129b which cooperate with one wall of recesses 127 and 128, respectively, to guide the movement of brushes 124 toward and away from the commutator 123. To bias the brushes 124 against the commutator 123, there are provided a pair of pivotal levers 130 and a pair of torsion springs 131. The levers 130 are provided with portions 130a pivotal about pivot portions 126b of brush holder 126 which latter includes an arched portion 126C from which pivot portions project (FIGS. 15 and 19), the arched portion being provided so as not to interfere with commutator 123. Coiled central portions 13101 of the torsion springs 131 are mounted, as clearly shown in FIG. 1l, on pivot pins 126d and 126e projecting one from either side of brush holder 126. The torsion springs bias the free ends of levers 130 into engagement with brushes 124 and hence, bias the brushes against commutator 123, as clearly shown in FIG. 15 of the drawings. The brush holder 126 further includes an extension 126f for engaging the inside of casing 101 in the final assembly.

Thus, it can be seen that the entire electric motor 106 of the shaver 100 is mounted in and held by the casing section 102.

In order to support suitable terminal pins 132 the casing section 102 is provided with a portion 102p defining recess 133 (FIG. 18) to receive one edge of an insulated support 134 (FIGS. l1 and 12). A cooperating projection 101b in cover member 101 having an identical recess receives the opposite edge of support 134. The casing `sections are provided with cooperating notches to define an opening 136 affording access to terminal pins 132.

For the purpose of also mounting a cutter head assembly, generally designated at 38 since it may be identical with that shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, in the casing section 102, the latter is provided in portions 102b and 102C of casing section 102 with V-shaped ridged recesses 137 and 138, respectively. The blocks 40 of resilient material secured to cutter shaft 39 are disposed in these recesses. One of the resilient blocks 40 is held in its cooperating recess 137 by means of a cutter shaft clamp 139 (FIG. 17) which has a generally rectangular bearing clamping portion 139a and a mounting tab 139b having a lateral projection 139e receivable in a cooperating recess 140 in the casing section 102. The clamp 139 is held in place by means of a screw 141, best shown in FIG. 13 of the drawings, engaging a tapped opening 142 in Icasing section 102. The other resilient block 40 is adapted to be held in its cooperating recess 138 by means of the casing cover section 101 in a manner to be described.

The armature shaft 108 and the cutter shaft 39 are interconnected by means of the drive mechanism generally designated at 143 and which is not further described lsince it may be identical to or similar to the drive mechanism already described for converting rotary motion of the motor shaft to oscillating motion of the cutter shaft.

Thus, it can be seen that all of the moving parts of the electric shaver may be mounted in operative relationship and assembled on the casing section 102. The casing cover 101 is, thus, primarily a cover for the casing housing the internal mechanism of the shaver. Cover 101 is adapted to seat against the casing section 102 and the upper portion thereof is held in place by means of a pair of casing clips 144, best shown in FIGS. 13, 14 and 15 of the drawings. The lower portions of the casing sections are secured together by a pair of screws 145 which extend through openings in abutting posts 101d and 102q, respectively.

The casing cover 101 is provided with a ridged V- shaped recess 147 for receiving a portion of the resilient block 40, the other portion of which is disposed in recess 138. In addition, the casing cover 101 abuts against the support tab 126]'c on the brush holder 126 thus holding it firmly in position. To insure that the field structure of motor 106 remains in its position between the various ribs of casing section 102, a casing cover spring 149 is secured to cover 101 by pins 101e (FIG. 12) projecting from cover section 101. This spring 149 biases the field laminations 109 into position in casing section 102 and, thus, holds them firmly in their proper position.

Suitable comb locks 43 shown in phantom in FIGS. 14 and may be held in position by comb lock springs 150 clearly shown in FIG. 13 of the drawings and secured to the casing sections 101 and 102 in any suitable manner.

Thus, it can be seen that the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIGS. 11 to 19 is also characterized by the fact that all of the moving parts of the shaver are mounted onto one main support member, i.e., the casing section 102, thus simplifying assembly and repair. In addition, the assembly of the shaver is rendered even more economical due to the fact that there are no independent mounting members aside from the casing itself with the exception of the brush mount or holder 126. Due to the unique structural features incorporated into the shaver 100 in accordance with the present invention, the cost of production, assembly and repair are greatly reduced.

In FIGS. to 27 of the drawings there is illustrated an electric shaver comprising still another embodiment of the present invention in which an impulse type electric motor is employed. As in the preceding embodiment, ,a unitary support or mounting structure for the moving parts of the shaver is provided, and the motor and cutting mechanism are mounted in operative relati-onship to this support or frame. This support, with the elements of the shaver secured thereto, is insertable in a suitable casing of desired shape land appearance. The frame or support is neither a part of the casing nor is it positioned entirely at the head of the shaver, as in the previously described embodiments. Rather, it extends from the head of the shaver to the bottom of the casing. An impulse type electric motor is mounted on the frame with the field laminations and windings being mounted directly to the frame and with the armature journaled in a pair of bearings mounted to the frame. In addition, the motor switching structure is mounted on this same frame, as is also the shaver cutter assembly.

More specifically, having reference to FIGS. 2O to 27 of the drawings, there is illustrated an electric shaver designated generally as 160. The shaver 160 includes a mounting frame or support 161, best shown in FIG. 27 of the drawings, which is preferably molded Ias a complex unitary member from a suitable material. Essentially it comprises a somewhat T-shaped structure (FIG. 27) with the head on the T designated as 16111 defining a head supporting structure while the leg of the T designated as 161b serves as the motor supporting portion.

The shaver 160 is illustrated as being equipped with lan impulse motor 163, although obviously any other suitable motor might be employed. As illustrated, the motor 163 comprises a stator or field structure defined by two stacks of laminations 16411 and 16417 secured together by any suitable means. To support these vstacks of laminations in spaced parallel relationship on support 161, the latter is provided with an upper notch or recess 166 (FIG. 27) and the stack of laminations 16411 is secured in this'recess by fastening means 167 which threadedly engage tapped inserts 168 suitably molded into support 161. The lower stack of laminations 164b is supported on spaced plane surfaces 161C by suitable fastening means 167 the openings of tapped inserts 168 being exposed on the surfaces 161e. The .adjacent edges of the spaced stacks of laminationsf16411 and 164b present concave pole faces for accommodating a suitable armature described hereinafter.

To energize the field or stator structure, a pair of, field windings 16911 and 169b are provided which surround the central portion of stacks of laminations 16411 and 16411,

10 respectively. To accommodate the field windings 16911 and 16911, the support 161 is provided with recesses 17001 and k, respectively.

The armature of the electric motor 163 comprises an armature shaft 179 which is journaled at either end in suitable bearings 17311 and 173]; (FIG. 21). To accommodate these bearings support 161 is provided with spaced bearing recesses 17411 and 174b, respectively (FIG. 27). The bearings 17311 and 173b are held in the recesses 17411 and 17411 by suitable bearing retainers 17511 .and 175b, respectively, which, in turn, are secured to support 161 by suitable fastening means 177 threaded into tapped openings 178 in the support 161.

In accordance with the present invention, twin armatures 18011 and 1801's are secured by suitable fastening means 182 to the armature shaft 179 in spaced relationship thereon. Each armature comprises a stack of laminations, of the shape shown best in FIG. 24 of the drawings, with the ends curved so as to define a minimum air gap between such ends and the adjacent curved surfaces of the eld laminations. Thus, the opposed convex ends of the armatures 18011 and 18012 rotate between the concave pole faces of the field structure. To accommodate the rotating armatures 18011 and b, the support 161 is provided with recesses 18111 and 18111, respectively (FIG. 27).

It will be understood that an impulse motor requires control means for periodically making and breaking the euergization circuit for the winding sections 16911 and 16911. To this end the support 161 is provided on the side opposite that visible in FIG. 27 of the drawings with a recess 183 for supporting a pair of L-shaped resilient contact supports 18411 and 184b. As illustrated, one leg of each L is disposed in the recess 183 and secured to the support 161 by suitable fastening means 185. The other legs of the L-shaped contact supports 18411 and 184b extend through an opening 186 defined in the support 161 so as to extend one above and one below the armature shaft 179. Supported on the free ends of the resilient contact supports 18411 and 184b are a pair of contacts 18711 and 187b which are urged into contacting engagement as shown in FIG. 22 of the drawings by the inherent resilience of the contact supports 18411 and 184b.

For the purpose of periodically interrupting the electrical circuit at the contacts 18711 and 187b, the armature shaft 179 is provided with an eliptical section 17911 (FIG. 22) defining a cam. A pair `of cam follower blocks 18811 and 1885 preferably formed of an insulating material, such as nylon or the like, engage the cam 17911 with the result that upon rotation of the armature shaft 179 the switch comprising contacts 18711 and 187b is periodically opened and closed. Such switch actuation occurs twice during each revolution of the motor. The operation of such an impulse motor is well understood by those skilled in the art .and no further description will be included herewith. Reference may be made to Jepson Patent 2,080,119, assigned to the same assignee as the instant application for a description of such operation. Usually such an impulse motor employs electrical components, such las resistors and capacitors, which are not shown but which are also suitably mounted on the support 161.

To complete the magnetic circuit of the field structure of the impulse motor 163 and to provide additional mounting structure, a somewhat U-shaped member 190 is provided 4for the end of the motor adjacent bearing 17311 and is secured in position by the fastening means 167, already described. A Vsomewhat similar member 191 is provided for the other end of the motor also held in position by the screws 167. The members 190 and 191 are each provided with a laterally extending tab 19011 and 19111 (FIGS. 23 and 24) receivable in slots 19211 and 192b (FIG. 27), respectively, defined in support 161. Each of these tabs is provided with a tapped opening for receiving casing securing screws designated as 193.

For the purpose of supporting suitable terminal pins member 191 whereby the terminal pins 19S are rigidly supported.

In accordance with the present invention, the cutter assembly, which may be similar or identical to that already described and, hence, will merely be generally designated `-by the reference numeral 199, including an oscillating cutter shaft d. The support is provided at one end with an integral projection 161d for receiving a suitable bearing (not shown). The other end of the shaft 206 is received in a bearing (also not shown) disposed in a bearing recess 201 (FIG. 27) dened in support 161. A bearing cap 292 is held in place against the support 161 by screws 293.

A comb lock spring 205 is held against the support 161 by means of suitable fastening means 204. Suitable comb locks 296, shown in phantom in FIGS. 22 and 23, are provided in a well understood manner.

To convert rotary motion of motor 163 to oscillating motion of cutter shaft 260, a suitable drive mechanism 207 well understood in the art is provided.

It will be appreciated that the entire shaver motor and cuttingassembly is all secured to support 161 and may be operated without more. Preferably a suitable casing is provided which includes a main casing section 268 and a pair of end caps 209 and 211i. The support 161 and parts secured thereto is insertable in'casing section 268, as

Vshown in FIGS. 20, 22 and 23 of the drawings, with the head of the T 161a overlying the open top edge of thecasing section. The support 161 and casing section 26S are secured together by fastening means 193, previously described, which extend through openings 211 in casing section 298. ToV afford access to the terminal pins 195, the

casing section 208 is provided with an opening 213. The caps 209 and 210 are snapped into position and blend the cutting portion of the shaver 160 with the casing section 208.

Thus, it can be seen that the shaver 160 is provided with a support to which all parts of the electric motor and the cutter assembly are mounted. The assembly of this electric shaver is greatly simplied by this novel structural arrangement, since all the moving parts of the shaver are mounted to a single structural element. Additionally, repair is facilitated because of the fact that the casing may be easily removed and the shaver exposed intact.

While there have been illustrated or described several embodiments of the present invention, it should be understood that numerous changes and modifications will occur to those skilled in the art, and it is intended by the appended claims to cover all those changes and modifications which fall Within the true spirit and scope of the present invention. Y

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An electric shaver comprising a cutter assembly including a cutter shaft, an electric motor including an armature drivingly connected to said cutter shaft, a terminal plate supporting terminal means for said electric motor, a unitary mounting element, lmeans for securing said cutter assembly to one side of said mounting element, means for securing said electric motor and terminal plate to the other side of said mounting element, said mount-V ing element said cutter assembly said electrical motor and Vsaid terminal plate defining a unitary subassembly, cupshaped casing means for receiving therein at least said electric motor and said terminal plate, and means for holding said subassembly in assembled relationship with said casing means whereby said cutter assembly projects from the open side of said casing means, and said motor and terminal plate are enclosed in said casing means.

2,. In an electric shaver the combination of a support, a cutter assembly mounted in operative condition to one side of said support, an electric motor comprising an armature and a lield structure, vmeans for rotatably supporting said armature from the other side of said support, means for supporting said field structure from said other side of said support in operative relationship with said Varmature comprising a depending hanger bracket extending beyond said other side of said support, means driv-V ingly connecting said motor and said cutter assembly, and

an open ended casing including means at said open endV for engaging a portion of said support whereby the portions of said shaver on said other side of said support are disposed within said casing.

3. An electric shaver comprising a mounting chassis, a cutter assembly secured to one side of said chassis, an electric motor comprising an armature and a field structure, means for rotatably supporting said armature from the other side' of said chassis, a bail hanger supported on said one side of said chassis, and a bail clamp depending from said bail hanger and extending through openings in said chassis, said field structure for said motor being clamped to said 4other side of said chassis by said bail clamp.

4. The electric shaver of claim 3 wherein said bail clamp is a U-shaped member with means at the ends of the legs of the U secured to said bail hanger.

S. The electric shaver of claim 4 wherein a hanger bracket is provided engaging said eld structure and the bight portion of said U-shaped member supports said hanger bracket. j

6. The electric shaver of 'claim 5 wherein said eld structure includes recess means and said bight portion includes a deformed section receivable inrsaid recess means.

'7. In an electric shaver the combination of Ya mounting chassis, a cutter Vassembly secured to one side of said chassis, an electric motor comprising an armature and a field structure, means for rotatably supporting said armature, Vfrom the other side of said chassis, a bail hanger supported on said one sideof said chassis, a pair of U-shaped ter assembly, and a cup-shaped casing including means at said open end for engaging a portion of said chassis whereby the portions of said shaver on said other side of said chassis are disposed within said casing.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein a rectangular hanger bracket is provided for supporting said field structure, said hanger bracket including projecting pins engageable by said bail clamps.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein fastening means are provided to secure said casing to said hanger bracket.

10. The electric shaver of claim 1 wherein said unitary mounting element comprises an insulating T-shaped support with said cutter assembly mounted on one side of the head of the T of said VT-shaped support, and said electric motor is secured to the leg of said T-shaped support.

11. The electric shaver of claim 10 Where said terminal plat is supported from said legVv of said T-shaped support.

Y 12. The hair removal device ofclaim 11 wherein said head of the T provides a closure for the open end of said casing.

13. In an electric shaver the combination of a onepiece unitary support of insulating material, a cutter asvspaced bearings for rotatably supporting said armature,

said support including integral projections having recesses within which said armature bearings are received, means for supporting said iield structure on another portion of said unitary support and in operative relationship with said armature, and means drivingly connecting said armature shaft to said blade support shaft to oscillate said blade support shaft upon rotation of said armature shaft.

14. An electric dry shaver comprising a one-piece unitary support of insulating material, a cutter shaft mounted for oscillatory movement in a pair of spaced bearings, projections from one side of said unitary support having recesses Within which said spaced cutter shaft bearings are received whereby said cutter shaft is operatively secured to one side of said support, an electric motor including an armature, a eld structure and armature commutating means, said armature having a shaft supported by spaced bearings, integral projections formed on said unitary support for receiving said spaced armature shaft bearings, means for securing said field structure and said commutating means to the other side of said unitary support, and means drivingly connecting said motorand said cutter shaft whereby rotation of said armature shaft produces oscillation in said cutter shaft.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,105,223 1/ 1938 Nicholl 30-43.2 2,158,823 5/1939 Koyl 310-80 2,221,639 11/1940 Johnson et al. 310-47 2,351,623 6/ 1944 Martin 310-29 2,688,184 9/1954 Jepson 30-43.9 2,726,445 12/ 1955 Winther SO-43.9 2,773,306 12/1956 Hanson 310-47 X 2,811,774 11/1957 Otto et al 30-43.92 X 2,998,648 9/1961 Barron et al. 30-431 3,028,668 4/ 1962 Dechaux 30-43.9 3,105,163 9/1963 Camp 310-29 WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

20 MYRON C. KRUSE, Examiner. 

1. AN ELECTRIC SHAVER COMPRISING A CUTTER ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A CUTTER SHAFT, AND ELECTRIC MOTOR INCLUDING AN ARMATURE DRIVINGLY CONNECTED TO SAID CUTTER SHAFT, A TERMINAL PLATE SUPPORTING TERMINAL MEANS FOR SAID ELECTRIC MOTOR, A UNITARY MOUNTING ELEMENT, MEANS FOR SECURING SAID CUTTER ASSEMBLY TO ONE SIDE OF SAID MOUNTING ELEMENT, MEANS FOR SECURING SAID ELECTRIC MOTOR AND TERMINAL PLATE TO THE OTHER SIDE OF SAID MOUNTING ELEMENT, SAID MOUNTING ELEMENT SAID CUTTER ASSEMBLY SAID ELECTRICAL MOTOR AND SAID TERMINAL PLATE DEFINING A UNITARY SUBASSEMBLY, CUPSHAPED CASING MEANS FOR RECEIVING THEREIN AT LEAST SAID ELECTRIC MOTOR AND SAID TERMINAL PLATE, AND MEANS FOR HOLDING SAID SUBASSEMBLY IN ASSEMBLED RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID CASING MEANS WHEREBY SAID CUTTER ASSEMBLY PROJECTS FROM THE OPEN SIDE OF SAID CASING MEANS, AND SAID MOTOR AND TERMINAL PLATE ARE ENCLOSED IN SAID CASING MEANS. 